CARRIER STRIKE GROUP 12
Newsletter
#6 august - september 2015
Rear Adm. Kelley is a native of Newark, Ohio. He is a 1984 graduate of Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, Okla., where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Business. He holds a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island.
LETTER FROM THE ADMIRAL Theodore Roosevelt Carrier Strike Group, family and friends, A little over a month ago, I assumed command of this great Carrier Strike Group and have had the privilege of working with the Sailors and Marines embarked aboard our ships and air wing. The turnover and transition has been smooth and seamless, thanks to this team of professionals and the extensive training that took place leading into deployment. I am impressed and proud of the great things each Sailor and Marine has done out here and would like to highlight some of their great accomplishments. Collectively, our ships have steamed more than 150,000 nautical miles and conducted 80 strait transits. The air wing has safely executed 7,200 sorties resulting in more than 16,100 flight hours and our aviators have delivered over 900 weapons in Iraq and Syria in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. All this accomplished each day in an unforgiving environment where the heat index regularly soars over 130 degrees. Each Sailor and Marine wakes up every morning and tackles the day with focus, dedication and drive. That work ethic keeps each other safe, the ships moving, crews fed and planes flying. I know that each Sailor and Marine here could not do such a fantastic job without their family and friends’ service and sacrifice, cheering them on from home. For that, thank you. Thank you for the care packages, emails, letters and words of encouragement. I am proud of this team and want to personally thank each and every one of you for your support.
BY THE NUMBERS A S O F A U G U ST 1 2 , 2 0 1 5
USS Forrest Sherman (DDG 98)
SHIP IN THE SPOTLIGHT USS Normandy (CG 60)
Her keel was laid on April 7, 1987; she was launched on March 19, 1989; and then she was commissioned on December 9, 1989.
400
The Normandy’s namesake comes from the WWII Battle of Normandy that took place on June 6, 1944.
crewmembers onboard
3
Deployments: Operation Desert Storm, Operation Desert Shield, and Operation Inherent Resolve.
weapons system
chain of command
awards
MK45 light weight weapons system MK41 vertical launcher system harpoon weapons system MK32 torpedo system MK28 25mm chain gun MK15 close-in weapons system M240 machine gun .50 caliber machine gun
Commanding Officer: Capt. Scott F. Robertson Executive Officer: Lt. Cmdr. Nathaniel Schick Command Master Chief: Command Master Chief Petty Officer Greg S. Carlson
- In 1997, “Marjorie Sterrett Battleship Fund Award” - In 1998, “Most Tomahawaks shot by a US Navy cruiser” (3) Navy Unit Commendation Medals (3) Battle “E” Awards National Defense Service Medal Southwest Asia Service Medal
SAILOR IN THE SPOTLIGHT ADC (Select) (AW) Ryan Kerley is a native of Palm Bay Florida, graduated from Bayside High School in 2002, and enlisted January 2003. He previously served HSM-40 “Air Wolves,” HSM70 “Spartans,” HSL-40 “Proud Warriors,” and currently serves as HSM-46 “Grandmasters” Detachment Six Leading Petty Officer aboard USS Farragut (DDG 99). He is married and is the proud father of one daughter. As Sailors around the fleet reach the end of Phase II of chief petty officer-365 program, new chief petty officer selectees have learned more now than ever about what it means to further develop their leadership skills as they prepare to don anchors on September 16. For Chief Aviation Machinist’s Mate (Select) Ryan Kerley, it was both a joyous and somber occasion when he learned he had been chosen to join the CPO ranks. “I had a mixture of emotions,” said Kerley. “First, was relief that I was on the list and the waiting was over. Second, I felt bad for my friends who were not on the list and I felt should be
there with me.” During Phase II of CPO-365, Kerley continues to serve as the leading petty officer of HSM-46 Detachment Six. Kerley has successfully overseen maintenance on two MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopters while on deployment to the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of operation. “These five months with my detachment, or a total of six if you include [Composite Training Unit Exercise], have been busy and tiresome, but very successful,” said Kerley. In addition, Kerley has also led three phase maintenance availability periods while aboard Farragut, which
are performed on each helicopter after 200 flight hours and consist of detailed inspections and maintenance to prevent corrosion, as well as assess individual components both inside and out of the aircraft. “Our day and night crews are great and we’ve all put in a great deal of work in making sure our birds stay in the air,” said Kerley. “We are ready when called upon to complete any mission our pilots and aircrewman are tasked with.” When asked how Phase II is progressing thus far, he referred to a renewed sense of teamwork and collective determination as the common denominator between selectees. “Everyday is a challenge,” said Kerley. “All the selectees have to rely on is each other. We started out not really knowing each other and now we are together all the time trying to work together to collectively meet our goals.” In looking to the future, Kerley is optimistic about what new opportunities await with his fellow three selectees aboard Farragut. “Honestly, I don’t think we will fully understand everything we have learned until we are able to apply it in real life. There is something to be learned in everything we do, even if we don’t always see it to begin with.”
BACK TO HISTORY September
Sept. 1 1942
The first Seabee unit to serve in a combat area, the Sixth Naval Construction Battalion, arrives on Guadalcanal.
Sept. 6 1953
Exchange of prisoners of war from Korean War (Operation Big Switch) ends.
Sept. 11 1813
During the War of 1812, Commodore Oliver H. Perry leads his fleet at the Battle of Lake Erie, flying his “Don’t give up the ship” flag on the brig Lawrence, which is destroyed during battle. Rowing in open boat to Niagara with survivors, Perry brings the fleet into action and wins the engagement.
Sept. 25 1944
PFC John D. New serves with the 1st Marines against the Japanese on Peleliu Island. When an enemy soldier hurls a grenade in the area where two Marines are directing mortar fire, he throws himself on the deadly missile and absorbs the full impact of the explosion, sacrificing his life to save his comrades. For his “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity”, he was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
SEPT. 20 1981
Philippine Navy frigate, Datu Kalantia, previously, USS Daniel Booth (DE 170), is forced aground by typhoon Clara while at anchor near Clayan Island, 340 miles north of Manila. USS Mount Hood (AE 29), with a special medical team embarks and joins in on rescue operations on Sept. 21. Only 18 members of the crew survive.
SEPT. 30 1954
The world’s first nuclearpowered submarine, USS Nautilus (SSN 571), is commissioned at Groton, Conn. On Aug. 3, 1958, she is the first U.S. vessel to transit across the geographic North Pole. Nautilus now serves as the historic ship at the Submarine Force Museum at Groton.
In Tribute
Remembering 9/11 On September 11, 2001, four passenger airliners -- which all departed from airports on the U.S. East Coast bound for California -- were hijacked by 19 al-Qaeda terrorists to be flown into buildings. Two of the planes, American Airlines Flight 11 and United Airlines Flight 175, were crashed into the North and South towers, respectively, of the World Trade Center complex in New York City. A third plane, American Airlines Flight 77, was crashed into the Pentagon in Arlington County, Virginia. The fourth plane, United Airlines Flight 93, initially was steered towards Washington D.C., but crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania when passengers retaliated against the hijackers.
Lo
The everlasting eff American Airlines Flight 11 out of Boston, Massachusetts, crashes into the north tower
United Airlines Flight 175 from Boston crashes into the south tower
victims, including 246 on the four planes, 2,606 in the World Trade Center and in the surrounding area, and 125 at the Pentagon. All were civilians with the exception of 72 law enforcement officers, 343 firefighters, and 55 military personnel.
“These acts shattered steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve.�
people were typically in the Twin Towers by 8:54 a.m. according to turnstile counts from the Port Authority.
- Former president George H.W. Bush
search and rescue dogs from around the country participated in searching for survivors following the attacks on 9/11. The dogs worked 12-hour days. When not searching for survivors, the dogs served as impromptu therapy dogs for the human rescuers.
ooking Back
fects of how 9/11 shaped our country The south tower of the World Trade Center collapses
Military
Hundreds of thousands of tons of toxic debris containing more than 2,500 contaminants were spread across Lower Manhattan due to the collapse of the Twin Towers. About 18,000 people are estimated to have developed illnesses as a result of the toxic dust. $4.2 billion was allocated to create the ‘World Trade Center Health Program’ for people with long-term health problems from the 9/11 attacks.
On September 14, 2001, Congress passed the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Terrorists. This led to the war in Afghanistan and Iraq, totaling over $3 trillion.
Economy
Health
American Airlines Flight 77 crashes into the Pentagon
In New York City, about 430,000 job-months and $2.8 billion in wages were lost in the three months after the attack. The city’s GDP was estimated to have declined by $27.3 billion for the last three months of 2001 and all of 2002. The U.S. government provided $11.2 billion in immediate assistance in September 2001, and $10.5 billion in early 2002 for economic development and infrastructure needs.
United Airlines Flight 93, also hijacked, crashes into Somerset County, Pennsylvania
The north tower of the World Trade Center collapses
1 World Trade Center
The construction of One World Trade Center began on April 27, 2006, and reached its full height on May 20, 2013. It’s height reaches 1,776 feet and thus claiming the title for the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. After Governor Eliot Spitzer took office in 2007, the State of New York was expected to provide $250 million towards construction costs, and the Port Authority agreed to finance another $1 billion through bonds. The tower’s total costs reached $3 billion. On November 18, 2006, 400 cubic yards of concrete were poured onto the foundation of the One World Trade Center. By February 22, 2008, 9,400 of the nearly 50,000 short tons of steel necessary had been ordered. By February 11, 2009, the tower was 105 feet above street level. On July 13, 2010, workers found remains of an 18th century sailing ship at the World Trade Center site. The remains of a 32-foot section of a ship’s hull and a 100-pound anchor were found. By February 2011, the tower reached 56 floors, 667 feet above grade, while the panels reached the 27th floor. On December 12, 2012, the first nine pieces of the spire were lifted to the 104th floor. On May 10, 2013, the last two sections of the building’s spire were installed making it the 3rd tallest building in the world. On May 28, 2015, the One World Observatory, at the tower’s top, opened.
TR REMEMBERS 9/11 Sailors, Marines, and honored guests, Vice Adm. Bill Moran, Chief of Naval Personnel, and Fleet Master Chief April Beldo, master chief of Manpower, Personnel, Training and Education, attend a 9/11 remembrance ceremony aboard the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71). Photo story by: Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Anna Van Nuys